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It is a story of war between two nations, the conflict of love rivals and the looming fate of death.

But the antagonistic themes of Aida seem to have spilled into the wings after a student production of the musical Aida was cancelled amid a row over suggestions of “cultural appropriation”.

A theatre at the University of Bristol said yesterday it had cancelled all showings after a revolt by students.

Bettina Moench performs during a photocall for the musical 'Aida' in Munich, GermanyCredit:
Jan Pitman/Getty Images

It is understood that there were protests amid fears that white students would be cast as leads and expected to portray Ancient Egyptians and slaves.

The musical, by Tim Rice and Elton John, is based on Verdi's opera of the same name. It centres around an Ethiopian princess, Aida, who is held prisoner in Egypt, where she serves as a slave but falls in love with an Egyptian general.

One student commented: “White washing still exists, it’s been done enough in Hollywood, look at Liz Taylor in Cleopatra.”

Students at the theatre groupCredit:
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In its statement, the theatre said: “It is with great sadness that we are announcing the cancellation of Aida in this year’s MTB show calendar.

This show that was voted in by our members has since caused controversy in terms of racial diversityMusic Theatre Bristol

“This show that was voted in by our members has since caused controversy in terms of racial diversity.

“It is a great shame that we have had to cancel this show as, of course, we would not want to cause offence in any way, and that was certainly never our intention. Our intention was to tell this story, one which surely is better heard than not performed at all.”

Conrad Young, a student at the Bristol Against Censorship group, told The Tab: “The effect that the fear of cultural appropriation has on modern campuses is a sad affair and in this case has damaged the student experience of the people involved and the prospective student audiences.”